Friday, December 10, 2010

What a shoot and if the pictures are to say anything they speak of a trailer trash wedding like never before.

The Aleit Group always seem to pull out the stops when it comes to the Limited Edition and did Johnny out do himself for this occasion. The brief was simple, an American Trailer Trash wedding on South African soil. Our first thoughts would be “If I was bride and perfectly happy living in a trailer park , what would my wedding look like? So some “kommin”ing up was in order with a mix between South African meets American Trash.

This is what the Elsje Designs Team came up with:

Bunting took on a more playful note, with quirky characters and all the necessary wedding information strung tightly around the Bridal Couple acts as the perfect wedding invitation . In streamer fashion, banners were hung a with typical South African slang of “ Hoe lyk it my China”, “Lekka Bru” and “ Howzit my chop”. Pap sak offered a cheaper take on the normal branded bubbly at the usual wedding. With a leopard print that not only adds to the décor but is also acts as a “Do not disturb” sign” which could come in handy later in the evening. An old fashioned toaster in a typical Tupperware yellow, provided an unconventional seating plan, to fill you ask? Well toast of course. So we printed each table name fitting with theme following with the guests names below. To finish off the table decor, each guest received their cigarette hand tied to a box of matches with each guests name. So with plenty of “drank” sorted, music played from beatbox inside the trailer, fashionable junk- trailer chic décor and a “kick ass” crowd Yolandi and Hein’s guests are sure to have “lekker Kuier”.

Monday, November 8, 2010

We love giving our brides the opportunity to share a few of their wedding day pics, together with some advice to new brides. Minette, you looked ravishing beautiful. Karla, you have excelled with the planning of this wedding. Zara-Zoo, these pictures are gorgeous! Please visit http://www.zara-zoo.com/blog for more inforation.

Minette (and Hendri) had the following to say about her wedding day:

A truly South African winelands wedding in the prettiest month, October with a little bit of winelands from Franschhoek, combined with a little bit of a French affair at the 5 star Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa. The ceremony was held on the premises in an old wine house with the reception in a glass conservatory in the middle of a working fruit orchid. We combined white with hues of grey, added a splash of purple and used lots of glass and mirror in the decorations. Flowers were mainly white and green.

Our wedding was a true celebration of us, on the exact day we celebrated our 8 year anniversary, 30 October 2010 – no tears, pure joy and happiness. We had a superb team of the very best wedding service providers (refer to list of service providers on the photographers blog). For any bride getting married in the Western Cape, I can recommend these service providers again and again.

What was different? Everything. Each aspect of the wedding was coordinated to represent the bride and groom. We had no bridesmaids or ushers, we didn’t do the bouquet and garter thing, we had a morning wedding, with a reception and thereafter an ‘after-party’ until 3h00 am the next morning. Very none traditional, but oh so very much us! For once the bride and groom cannot complaint that the day flew by (everyone warned us about that upfront). We didn’t do the typical wedding-favour-for-each-guest’s thing, but rather provided guests with many souvenirs throughout the day. From customised pens and a wish-ring (write a wish and hang it on our wish ring then keep the pen), to custom printed napkins with the menu in French. Dessert was a cake-and-chocolate bar where guests could pick their own selection of cake and chocolate truffles and eat there or take a box to go.

An enormous amount of detail was brought into the wedding with the décor and stationary on the day. As a final souvenir to guests, each couple received a young lime tree with planting instructions. The purpose of this was for our guests not just to enjoy the day, but to plant a tree for the newlyweds. A tree that will grow, change with each season, will carry fruit and each year, with our wedding anniversary in spring, the tree will be in full bloom which should forever remind our guests about our wedding day.

The dessert table was brimming with sweet treats. We printed a "sweet" poem on an oversize banner and had beautiful silver lettering made to mark this station.The favours that the guests could take home, was lime trees adorned with white paper butterflies with the guest name and planting instructions.

The guest book was something different! We created a post card station with a wish ring floating above the table, where guests could pin their wishes to the newly wed couple.

The happy couple: Hendri and Minnette.

Just for fun, we made slate coloured wooden signage for these fun pics. Also with calligraphy silver lettering.

Thank you for not just designing my wedding stationary from the Save-the-date's all the way to the thank you cards, but for creating mini souvenirs out of stationary that my guests can nurture for years to come. Thank you for being more than just graphic designers but even being translators from English to French at times! Thank you for always welcoming me to the studio with a smile, thank you for allowing brides like me to do some of it myself (DIY). Thank you for gentle guidance and advice, thank you for saying it like it is, every now and then, when my ideas really weren’t going to work! Thank you for creating stationary that represents the bride and groom, stationery that have my guests still talking!

Always keep doing what you do, with the dedication and perfection that you do it. You inspired me, and I am sure you inspire many other brides-to-be!

What amazed me and always will from the Elsje Designs team

- Your commitment to continually improve

- Your prompt response to e-mails

- Always meeting the deadlines

- Friendliness from the team

- Your creativity

- Your passion for your work

- I have come to believe that all weddings are almost similar and after planning a wedding and designing stationery, some things will start repeating themselves. I have noticed that even for brides who pick something from the existing stationery collection, you still strive to personalize the stationery for each person. And you succeed each and every time. Keep it up!

A bride's advise to brides-to-be:

- Visit the Elsje Designs studio in Durbanville. Whether you are planning a wedding or not, planning on having someone design your wedding stationery or doing it yourself. Their studio is a must see, a hive of creativity, a place where anyone can spend hours and hours just looking at all the pretty things, a place where you are sure to be left in awe.

- Elsje Designs does not just do wedding stationery. They do stationery and a million other things, even Absa Currie Cup Final (replicated) tickets that will have guests wondering. Visit them for general inspiration on any celebration and not just stationery.

- Print enough, and keep aside some of the stationery before the wedding. Guests like to take home souvenirs such as menu’s and order of service cards or confetti boxes. In the end, you will be left with no stationery of your own wedding day. Either have extras printed, or keep some aside upfront. I now need to get more printed to keep as a souvenir for myself!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

We have spotted a trend that is on the rise for the upcoming summer season. Yes, chic Parisienne stripes are making a comeback! But did they ever really go out of style? Prints are really in right now, so you really can’t go wrong with any printed article of clothing (or stationery for that matter!).

There's nothing that screams summer more than French sailor stripes worn by the water. Classic black and white stripes have been around for ages, as one of the most beloved patterns in fashion history. Ever since Coco Chanel sported the timeless pattern on a boatneck shirt, it has become a popular summer choice for fashion-forward women all around the world, not just for young men catching fish on a boat. Nautical stripes are one of the most minimalist of patterns, and look great combined with classic pieces like blazers and high-waisted trousers. But try to think outside of the box this season and take the pattern to a whole new level of form and function.

Black and white or cream stripes seem to be dominating the stores, but don’t let that hold back your creativity. Go for red, burgundy, navy, or olive. It’s really more about the stripes and not the color.

Wait, how are stripes worn?Stripes can be worn on top or bottom, or full body, as in a dress. For the bottom, steer clear of stripe pants, we’ll leave these for the 80s, but a skirt can fit in this century. Of course, tops are the number one way to feature this trend.

There are no restrictions on size of stripes. Go thin or thick! Just keep in mind that a thinner stripe will actually make you look wider. So, keep your body type in mind when choosing your striped garment.

Also, a good rule of thumb is to limit your stripes to only one piece per outfit. So, keep the pants solid, like jeans or black leggings, and add a stripe top. Or, as mentioned earlier, do a stripe skirt with a solid top. We’ll leave the mixing stripes and patterns for the runway.

Don’t be afraid of stripes! Keep them wider for a more slimming look. And, if it makes you feel more comfortable, add a military or boyfriend jacket over top.Happy Shopping!

for more info: http://www.examiner.com/fashion-trends-in-charlotte/the-stripe-trend-is-overwhelming-this-fal

Monday, November 1, 2010

Elsje Designs celebrates almost 10 years of success, celebrating the love of all things paper and endless possibilities with design esthetic.

With an eye for detail and flair for creativity, Elsje Designs are artisans of wedding stationery, corporate identity and social stationery. Whatever the occasion may be , it will always allow for a unique item of stationery, be it wedding favour, a corporate business card or a 21st invite.Elsje Designs offer countless choices for your celebration or wedding, including a save-the-dates, invitations, e-vites (electronic invitations), ceremony programmes or orders of service, menus, table seating plans, seating cards, table numbers, table gifts or favours for your guests, banner printing onto canvass or paper and thank you cards. Each will be specially created to complement your unique style. For the corporate client designs are handcrafted through the use business cards, logo's, letterheads, brochures, e-vites, posters, banner printing and packaging.Every celebration or wedding collection is hand crafted with love by a dedicated team of women, in our inviting Cape Town studio.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Elsje Designs is looking for a breath of fresh air to join their dynamic, creative team. We are looking for a talented and energetic graphic designer with a minimum of 2 years experience in a design environment. Should be able to conceptualize and communicate effectively and pay extra attention to detail and have strong layout skills.

Your responsibilities will include all facets of design and job follow-through, to print. Deadlines are a challenge. Humour, self-motivation and teamwork is a must!

Oh, and if you can pull a rabbit out of a hat at the last minute... it would be preferable!

Requirements:

CorelDraw X3, Microsoft Office, Print, working with client and suppliers

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

We frequently collaborate with Doreen Winking, the Munich based wedding coordinator of the Aleit Group. The Elsje Designs team always have lots of fun working with this very organized and extremely passionate planner par excellence. Doreen is very dedicated, making it always a pleasure to work with her, whether being a client or a service provider.

A picture paints a thousand words... Judging from a sneak peak of Marlene and Matt's wedding photographs, it's clear to see where Doreen's niche lies. Doreen said that the planning, preparation and the actual wedding day was just a great joy and harmony! The wedding was in the Carthusian, after it went into the Rhine in Cologne, with terraces overlooking the Duomo ..... a really impressive view with deep meaning for the couple.

An incredibly beautiful day with a happy couple, good-humored guests, many funny moments and a sensational live band / Party in the evening. DECOY is by far the best I've heard in a long time at a private party. WOW! The impressions of this beautiful wedding were taken through the lenses of Leifhelm photo, said Doreen.

The stationery was chic and printed in cool blue and grey tones finished with pale blue satin ribbon. For the stationery's artwork, we made use of a lovely couple silhouette that Linnett translated to their stationery to give this special wedding the finishing touch.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Annemie and I recently spent a lazy late afternoon having good Sauv Blanc with Jaco and Hayley from Just-Jack. We had a laugh about faded trends. Jaco promised to write an article about our findings, but we would also like to hear from you, what's on your "in" and "out" list?

In the past, trends have come and gone, but some of them just do not seem to be going fast enough. Just Jack has put together a few of those ‘trends’ and what it should be replaced with to keep it modern and fresh.

Chair covers with organza tie back

I recently jokingly said to a Service Providers; “You and me, we’re going to bring chair covers back into fashion” and we had a good laugh about it, but the reality is that so many Brides still think this is the way to go. We all loved it, but believe that this is a ‘trend’ that should be only be seen in old wedding albums…not modern wedding photos.

Rather than the classic chair cover, shop around and find chairs that will fit your style, and of course pocket. We realize that hiring chairs are expensive, but if you shop around, you will find that it is possible to use a beautiful chair without breaking the bank. A crazy thought is to alternatively ‘wrap’ your chair, but this would still require you to hire a decent chair, and not use an old hotel’s banqueting chair.

Matching Bridesmaid’s dresses

Now, maybe I can get the support of all previous Bridesmaids here. This is something that is just a little too overdone. Brides, making your Bridesmaids wear the exact same dress is a very old trend, and to be honest, I think they do not appreciate it either, as people are different shapes and sizes and one style dress might not suit all body types.

Our recommendation is to rather ask your Bridesmaids to wear a dress in shades of grey, for example. This way they still blend in beautifully, but also look beautiful in their own right, as the tone and style of their dress suit their complexity, style and shape better. Remember, you want to stand out on your wedding day, but this is not done by surrounding yourself with badly dressed Bridesmaids, but rather by making them look and feel good.

Black and White photos with splashes of colour

Yes, I know, everybody loved this and in to my despair even found out the other day, that my own sister has one of these pictures in her wedding album, but seriously, this ‘trend’ is over. For some it used to be cool, but that is not the case anymore. I’m not trying to offend anyone who has one of these photos, but keep in mind that times have change.

I think the most important thing to remember is to keep your photos beautiful, but natural. You do not want to look back at your photo album in ten year’s time and cringe, because of your choices back then. Have coloured photos and have black and white, and/or sepia photos, but don’t mix the two. You’ll thank me in the end.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Again, together with Aleit and Okasie, we created this beautiful see-through-feel table! Especially the clear perspex with stacked words, was a visual treat, dangling from a branch in the afternoon breeze. As a gift/keepsake, we had miniature perspex boxes made and rolled into it, was ribbon printed with the menu - definitely something different! For the cards we made a very simple yet, unusual "twist" card. Worthwhile to pop into the studio to see more....

Monday, October 11, 2010

Elsje Designs, Aleit and Okasie were featured together on the afrikaans lifestyle TV programme last week. Here's a few behind the scenes pics to show you how much fun we had!

For the farm table, we created brown paper bags with the Afrikaans saying "trou is nie perdekoop nie". Linnett's mom made these beautiful crochet buttonniere's that added an instant festive appeal to the concept. For the shoot, we've put vegetable seeds into the packet with the growing instructions printed at the back - this is a nice keepsake for your guests and a reminder of your love that continues to grow.

We had the artwork of the table number and festive words lasercut from clear perspex and hung that above the table. The transparency of this piece, added a modern and simplistic twist to the table.

Elsje in action - styling (what she loves most). The guest names which was printed onto clear film tags were tied to the knob of the bell jar, adding to the see-through feel of the table. With the clear perspex table number contained inside the bell jar, it created a understated focal point on the centre of the table.

Aleit and Minki admiring the colourful farm table, created by Okasie. Its always a treat to work with Chris and Dané from Okasie - these guys must be the most creative team in the industry!

Vanessa posing on the white couch, looking like a lady of leisure! We were very proud of her, well done V!! You looked glamorous and stylish - it seemed as if you might have luck as a TV presenter!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Monday, October 4, 2010

Europeans Suzanne and Simon exchanged their vows against a contemporary backdrop of vibrant colours in the Franschhoek valley. With the bulk of the guest list flying to Cape Town from abroad it was extremely significant to the couple to design a celebration with noticeable African elements and an original, contemporary décor. In striking hues of yellow and black, Elsje Designs together with Wedding Concepts created their very own African stationery.

To compliment the modern décor it was imperative that the wedding stationery was as progressive and unique. We think it had the true wow factor. An exclusively designed insignia of the African continent was carried throughout the stationery, reminding the guests of the flavours and facets of South Africa.

Before dinner each guest received a personalised name badge that had been pinned to canvas complete with instructions of where to sit at the reception. The menu for the evening was printed onto a black napkin and then personalised again with the guest’s name on a bright yellow band creating a stunning contrast of colour against the crisp white tables and orange and black floral décor. The evening’s weather turned out to be nothing short of an amazing African summer sunset accompanied with warm evening temperatures, so dinner was to be held under a majestic oak tree in the gardens. Large French inspired arm chairs held their own amongst the contemporary and colourful décor. Table centre pieces comprised of charcoaled wood, bright orange lilies and strelitzias. Burnt orange coloured glasses for candles, mirrored light boxes and a mix of white and orange vases added the finishing touches to the stylish table setting.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sage green and dusty pink - the perfect palette for a vintage celebration! For prices, please contact Annemie at admin@elsje.co.za.

Love Sonnet XVIIby Pablo Neruda

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topazor arrow of carnations that propagate fire:I love you as certain dark things are loved,secretly, between the shadow and the soul.I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carrieshidden within itself the light of those flowers,and thanks to your love, darkly in my bodylives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,I love you simply, without problems or pride:I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving

but this, in which there is no I or you,so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Friday, September 17, 2010

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street … fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Coco Chanel

Staying abreast of international trends is high on the to-do list for Elsje Designs, and following fashion trends from the runway and interior decorating into the world of stationery and wedding invations, is a must. Stationery is dictated by fashion.

A delicate pinstriped look is a way to instantly modernize your design, and will make invitations stand out. Bold stripes of color in the envelope liner will give your invitation a contemporary edge. Many of these latest designs will only use two colors, it's always best to keep it simple and elegant. You want the main focus of attention to be on the information that the invitation carries.

In contrast to the softer more subtle shades of last year, the forthcoming trends for the new season will be brightly coloured and – believe it or not – almost luminous! However, any bride who wishes to strut her stuff in style, needs to make a bold splash of colour if she wishes to remain in-line with other fashionistas!

Whilst we at Elsje Designs keep an eye on overseas trends, many don’t fit in with our own style of creativity. We don’t like to follow any particular themes - as we get inspiration (fashion, décor etc), we try to utilize these concepts for styling and stationery for various magazine shoots.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

One of my friends, Annelie Smuts, was recently in the Woman and Home magazine for a reason that I also feel very passionate about: Living off the land. We clutter our lives with too many deadlines, texting, meetings, traffic jams and all the stress that comes with our normal work day routines. The solution for this is actually quite simple, start a small garden on your patio, back yard or garden. There is nothing more satisfactory than harvesting your own peas for supper. Food tastes so much better with fresh herbs. Imagine picking your own avo's, lemons or figs!

There is actually proof of the healing power of nature... After time spent in the garden (or outdoors for that matter) many of my friends say they've been doing "gardening therapy." And now there are studies to prove it works.

Scientific tests were done on researchers who actually gardened while their brainwaves were studied electronically. Dr. Young (mental health specialist) says, "What they found was that the people who were gardening had brain waves that were very similar to people who meditate."

These medical tests conceded that gardening actually helps your body relax so it can heal because, she says, "It's a very healthy and healing state to be in."

Then, Young cites yet another study which found that hospital patients who are in a room with a view of a garden - actually recover faster!!! Their wounds heal about twice as fast as patients without a garden window. She says, "I think there's nothing more calming than and soothing than the smell of flowers and the earth."

Not that being part of a trend is ever a good reason to start or learn something new, but if it helps you move forward by being part of the “in” crowd, then you really need to plant your own edible garden this year!

Another survey done by the American Gardening Association showed a 19 percent increase in new hobby country farms and urban edible gardens in 2009 over 2008.

So, aside from its popularity, do you need some other reasons to grown your own food?

• Working in the garden reduces stress and makes you feel good.• In the current recession a good reason would be to save money. There is nothing more local (yes, we are still in love with local) than food grown in your own backyard, your windowsills, or on patio containers.• Growing your own fruit and vegetables means that you know exactly what does and does not go into your food and exactly where it comes from.• You will live healthier in a number of ways. Not only will you end up eating more fruits and vegetables, but you will be getting added exercise. Did you know that you can burn as many calories in 45 minutes of gardening as you can in 30 minutes of aerobics?• You will get a bigger variety of your favorite fruits and vegetables because you can choose from hundreds of different varieties and you can grow the things you like the best.

So here's the cheapest psychiatric advice you'll ever get: Get out and garden... It clears your head and heals your body.

Monday, September 13, 2010

In vogue for summer celebrations, are vintage post cards. We recreated a variety of these antiques for a recent Pasella shoot (either to be broadcasted this week or next week). For the shoot we used them as seating cards combined with table gifts (and of course they do look stunning on a table), tied together with postage cord and a tiny tag. Oh so beautiful!

Over time, we have built up quite a phenomenal library of vintage images, from old fashioned brides and grooms photographed in the 1920's, to hand painted birds, dainty ballerina's and my favourte, the Eiffel Tower!

These post cards can be used as part of your table seating, having a dual purpose, both as a decorative table gift as well as a place card.

For a wedding Save the Date, these old fashioned brides and grooms are divine and will really give your guests something to talk about!

The post cards are very inexpensive and when you do several images, all your guests are likely to converse about their various images.

The possibilities with these vintage beauties are limitless, they can be used for Save the Dates, a menu, table seating, table gifts etc.

Another great idea is to have a stamp made at your local stationer. Which you can use for your Save the Dates or menus. Alternating between large and the small fonts, to create a playful effect.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

With the upcoming wedding season, we would like to employ another graphic designer. Do you know of anyone that would enjoy to work in a creative environment (ribbons, colour, lace, the latest trends) and with at least 2 years relevant experience?

It is a full time position at our studio in Durbanville, Cape Town. Approx R5 000 per month, negotiable. Please send your CV with one or two of your favourite artwork or portfolio examples to admin@elsje.co.za.

Elsje Designs

Hello Stellenbosch!

Change is in the air. Not only have we moved to Stellenbosch, but our focus has also moved from posh events and weddings to limited edition lifestyle décor with a proudly South African touch. Watch this space...

Inspirational Invitations

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Our Website

About Us

We are a couture design company, specializing in creating and styling exclusive event stationery such as invitations, menus, programmes, gift tags, thank-you cards, save-the-date-cards, paper art for special occasions such as weddings, 21st birthdays, wedding anniversaries, birth announcements and personalised stationery. The team consist of 8 dream team members!

Style Notes

Look for Less Tip…Figure out where you place value in your wedding…is it the flowers? the invitations? the food and wine? Then, rearrange your budget so that the emphasis is on what you love…skimp on the rest!

Our favourite photographers

The Design Process

step 1: GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

Our first consultation is a creative meeting - our goal is to make your dream come true and design stationery that reflects your personality. Design choices including font & calligraphy options, paper, embellishments, ribbon and print techniques will be discussed. A refundable consultation fee of R300 is charged, we assure you that even if you would like to get ideas to make your own stationery, we would gladly share our secrets and give you ideas!

Alternatively, clients can also choose an existing design from our online shop - this is ideal if you are not able to meet with us at the studio.

step 2: QUOTE & DEPOSIT

Within a week we will provide you with a written quote - based on your consultation or online selection. Any additional design time spent, will be charged at our hourly rate of R300. A 50% deposit will be required to initiate the actual design process, based on your quote. Please supplyyour name as reference when you make your deposit.

step 3: ORDER FORM & WORDING SUGGESTIONS

On receipt of your deposit, we will forward an order form and a complete invitation wording manual with guidelines, etiquette and suggestions for you to compile your wording. Design will only begin after we received your completed order form.

step 4: DIGITAL MOCKUP: REVIEW & APPROVE THE PROOF

Based on your briefing we design a digital mock-up which we will e-mail to you. You will then have the opportunity to provide feedback and identify any changes you wish to make. The changes are integrated into a revised version that is submitted for your approval. Your first set of changes are free of charge, further changes will be billed at a fee of R300.00 per hour. Once you have approved the digital proof, Elsje Designs is not responsible for any future changes or mistakes.

step 5: PHYSICAL MOCKUP: FINAL APPROVAL & SIGN-OFF

After you have expressed satisfaction with the digital artwork - the layout, font, spelling and punctuation - we make a physical mock-up. Photographs will be emailed to you or can be signed off at the studio. The first mockup is free, any mockups thereafter will be billed at R250 per mockup.

step 6: PRINT, PRODUCTION & PICK-UP

Upon your final approval of the design, we will order paper and other materials for the production process to commence. We will complete work within 5 to 7 working days of receipt of your approved artwork. The balance outstanding will be due on collection of your stationery or before you arrange collection.